|It’s been an interesting year for Jersey, February saw Suzanne Wiley become the new Chief Executive of the Government of Jersey, and June saw another ‘female first,’ when Deputy Kristina Moore was elected as our new Chief Minister.
The election showed the door to some familiar faces, saw a political return for others and welcomed a number of fresh-faced candidates keen to make their own mark in treading where others have tried and failed. Whatever your political views, I have to say I take my hat off to anyone prepared to put their money where their mouth is, and put themselves squarely in the crosshairs of what is often very personal public scrutiny from the armchair experts.
Pictured: Sean Pontin, CEO of Enable Jersey.
For us at Enable it’s been a really positive year. We have been working hard to embed our new projects, and support anyone affected by disability to navigate services, stay well and feel included. We have been working with a new group of people, generally aged between 16 and 65 years (ish) and their families, as well as developing really positive co-working opportunities with Government departments and other charities alike. One of these projects has bought a number of charity partners together to look at the possibility of developing a local ‘hub’ where we could all realise the huge benefits of co-location.
As a team there is never a lack of new ideas about things that would bring benefits to those who we work with, the challenge is to choose the ones we can do well and have the most impact with. Just two of the projects we are working on for next year include working with local business to develop a new web directory to help local people and visitors plan where they go and how they access shops, pubs, restaurants etc and a project to repurpose care equipment such as wheelchairs, beds, hoists etc. Enable Jersey certainly aren’t standing still!
So, as we look to Christmas and 2023 I thought it would be good to ask members of the team and some of those we work with about their reflections on 2022 and hopes for 2023…
Sean
“We recently had our first team ‘away day,’ looking at how our vision has materialised in reality during 2022 and where we need to make changes or do things differently.
“It was a great day for many reasons but it wasn’t lost on me that for the first time since we reset as a charity we actually have a team! I’m so looking forward to working with everyone, I simply love my job!”
Holly
“I just hope that for people with a disability that there are more opportunities for jobs and training and more places to meet other people affected who may be having a hard time.”
Angela
“The ongoing challenge for people with disabilities is being recognised as people first. People with diverse and individual needs, interests, personalities, humour, and canker. Being humans, we all represent the kaleidoscope of humanity – good, bad and indifferent. We’ll carry on raising awareness so that one day we won’t have to!”
Corrina
“It’s been great to see the inclusion of ‘experts by experience’ i.e. people we work with, parents, families, carers etc.
“This is an amazing positive step, however, we need to be mindful that not only are their voices heard, but that they are listened to, their feelings and feedback respected and the information and experiences shared are used to help shape future services, provisions etc.”
Michala
“I joined Enable in September and it’s been simply amazing to be part of such a dynamic team committed to enhancing the lives of islanders affected by disability. L
“Looking to 2023 I would love to see a step up from ‘awareness’ to ‘action’ by becoming more conscious of how we can all, individually and collectively, enable islanders affected by disability to improve their life enhancing opportunities and to live a full life – through education, empathy and empowerment.”
Andrew
“As a member of the Enable board and someone who also has a disability I am excited by what we are doing and look forward to Enable continuing to be a positive influence for those with disabilities in Jersey.”
Suzanne
“I’ve always worked with people where for many reasons life is extra tricky, however spending the last six months working alongside people at Enable Jersey has really made me think differently about Jersey as a community and how we are only just starting to see value in people who through no choice of their own live their lives differently and think differently to what we are used to.
“I’ve seen how, as a society we can be ‘stuck’ in expecting people with lived experience of disability to share their inner most experiences to people they don’t necessarily know and may never see again all under the premise that this will help change services for the better. It can seem that their experiences, once shared, can go into a black hole never to be heard about again and this needs to change.
“My wish for 2023 is that we start to really understand the value of lived experience. Supporting people before, during and after their experience of sharing their thoughts and feelings and this personal contribution is truly listened to.”
Luke
“2022 has been a good year for me. As my first full year out of university I feel like I achieved a lot. I’m maintaining my independence whilst appreciating all of the support and encouragement around me. I am proud of how far I have come this year, learning every day how to be more assertive whilst knowing when it is best to ask for and accept help and advice from others.
The team from Enable have been some of my biggest advocates, and their encouragement constantly inspires me to do more and push further to make positive changes for myself and others.”
Chloe
“I am one of the newest recruits to Enable. I am thankful to Suzanne, Sean and The Enable team for providing me with a platform to share my knowledge, thoughts and experiences as an islander living with a disability. My hopes for the next year working with Enable is to start getting my voice heard by services that support young people with disabilities. This is based on my own personal experiences with the services that should be available to disabled islanders. Unfortunately, I know how easy it is to get lost in a system of support services.
“Especially the transition from child services to adult services. I am guessing many others experience the same thing. Hopefully with me sharing my stories of my life with a disability with the help of Enable we can start to see change in the system to make it more inclusive regardless of cognitive functioning or physical abilities.
“Lastly, the moto I live by is don’t let disability define you as a person, embrace your difference and make the most of what you’ve got!”
This article first appeared in Connect Magazine, which you can read in full HERE.